Defensive lineman Jacob Chaffin led Spain Park in tackles for loss with 11 last season. (The Birmingham News/Joe Songer)

The moment came late in Spain Park’s spring game, a 52-3 drubbing of Enterprise back in May.

There have been many moments like this for Jags middle linebacker Je’Niah Jackson as he has watched defensive tackle Jacob Chaffin.

The Jags blitzed. Chaffin busted through the line and did what he does best. He blew up the play and crumpled the quarterback. Jackson had a moment.

“It was one of the hardest hits I’ve seen in my life and I literally stopped and said wow,” Jackson said. “I felt bad for the quarterback.”

Chaffin and Jackson expect to have many more such moments this year at the heart of a revamped defense. Where last year Spain Park’s strength was in the secondary, this year the front seven will carry the load, and Chaffin and Jackson will provide the heavy lifting.

Both have recently given verbal commitments to FBS schools. Jackson, who at 5-11 and 205 pounds led the Jags in tackles last year with 91, is headed to UAB next fall.

Jackson’s family ties with new Blazers coach Garrick Magee were a key factor in staying close to home. Magee was on staff at Arkansas where Jackson’s brother Jeremiah currently plays.

“I feel comfortable there, I knew the coaches from when they were at Arkansas with my brother, so I’m excited about it,” Jackson said. Chaffin, at 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds, was tops on the team last year in tackles for loss with 11 and will take his skills to South Alabama, an area he is fond of.

“Honestly, I just want to be part of the history of that program,” Chaffin said.

With those decisions out of the way, the focus becomes how the two will be the core of Spain Park’s defense, roles they relish.

“It’s just what has to happen, whether he wants it or not, and I’m sure he wants it because we both like that role,” Jackson said. “It just has to happen to step up and be the leaders of the defense.”

“We’ve been playing together for a long time and starting since we were sophomores,” Chaffin said. “It’s like we’re brothers out there.”

Jags coach Chip Lindsey has that expectation for the duo, who are half of the total number of returning defensive starters Spain Park has.

“We need them to stay healthy and play well,” Lindsey said. “Our defense feeds off of them. They are guys that have been in the battles, have been in the war, so to speak.

“They need to play well and lead our team. Every season has its up and downs and how those two guys handle those ups and downs will be a great example for our young guys and help them mature, because in the beginning of the year they are going to be inexperienced.”

The two are about as good as Lindsey could hope for in those roles, with each bringing a key element to the field. Jackson is the brains of the operation, getting the defense set and making the on-field calls.

Butt Chaffin sees more.

“Relentless,” Chaffin said. “His motor is always running.”

As for Chaffin, Jackson summed him up in one word.

“Nasty. He’s a nasty player and that’s a good way to play,” Jackson said.

And together the pair is electric.

“We feed off of each other,” Jackson said. “If I make a big play he’s excited, if he makes a big play I’m excited. That’s how we like to do things. I feed off his energy and he feeds off mine and together we just want to go out and make a lot of plays for the defense, of course. Our energy comes off of each other.”